Apparatus for elevating, transporting, and discharging material.



T. S. WATSON. APPARATUS FOR BLEVATING, TRANSPORTING, AND DISGHARGING MATERIAL. APPLICATION FILED MAB.22, 1909.

v Patented Oct. 4, 1910.

I residing in'Milwaukee, in the county of Milhereinafter: more I To all whoin it may concern:

rrronas s. wn'rsour, or MILWAUKEE, Wisconsin.

arraaarus ron ntnvarme, rssnsronpmo, AND nrscnnncrne newsman.

Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed March 22, 1909.

Patented Got. a, 1919.

. Serial No. 484,885.

indicates a fragment supported-on piers (not shown) which are adapted. to travel on the rails the usual way. The bridge is tracks 6 forming part of the bridge and die it known thatI, Tnogin s S. WATSON, wankee and State of Wisconsin, have invente new and useful Improvements in Appa'ratus'for Elevating, Transporting, and

ischarging Material, of which the followback and forth. ing is a description, reference being had to The carriage is provided with a cab 8 dethe accompanying drawings, which are a pending ercfrom and containing electric part of this specification. motor controllers 9 for controlling the move- This invention has relation to improvement of the carriage and the operation of ments 1n. apparatus for elevating, transporting, and discharging material, and -more particularly to that class of apparatus in which the power medium is located at a fixed point.

One of the objects of this invention isto provide a construction in which the power medium is located at a fixed point and is controlled by means carried on the traversing carriage.

A further object of this invention is to provide a construction in which the niaterial holding receptacle is counterbalanced by means of a counterwei ht.

A still further bject c? this invention is to provide a construction whereby structures which are not provided with the modern means ofoperating the traversing carriages may be equipped with the improved means without materially strengthening the structure'as tenecessity for carrying the bee. motors or power means directly on the traversing carriage is obviated, although the controlling means and the operator are carried thereon. l

A still further object ofthe invention is toprovide a construction in which the 1naterial holding-freceptacle is counterbalanced l y means of a counterweight suspended in a loop formed in a cable associated with both the hoisting cable and the receptacle opening and closing. cable. I v I With the above, pnd other objects in View, the invention consists oithe apparatus and its parts, and all equivalents thereof, as

fully set forth.

In the accompanying drawings in which the same reference characters-indicate the same parts in all of the views; Figure 1 is a side view of the complete apparatus, parts being shown diagrammatically; and, Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof, parts also being. shown diagrammatically.

Referring to the drawing the numeral 5 the material holding receptacle. riage is provided with wheels 10 which travel on the bridge track and a brake shoe ll is adapted to engage one of the wheels to stop the carriage at any point desired. The brake sh and rod '0 cab.

mg and closing drum 14 respectively are mounted on the carriage and are provided with ropes or cables 15 and 16 wound therearound and the depending ends thereof'are connected, respectively,- to the receptacle 1 and tothe opening and closing mechanism of the receptacle. ro es or cables are made fast to the drums. on the hoisting drum 13 and extends therefrom in the direction of the time of. travel of the carriage to and around a guide pulley 19 and thence in the opposite direction to and is, wound around and fastened to a power drum 20 positioned on one end of the brid e. an e ectric motor 21 geared thereto.

actuating cable 22 is wound on the receptacle operating drum 14 and extends therefrom in the dlrection of the line of travel of the carriage and is wound around another power drum 23. This drum is cared to an electric motor 24 and is rotated thereby. v 1

A cable. 25, the ends ofwhichare Wound around the power drums,' depends from the drums in the form of a pended the counterweight 26 whichis adapted to exert a pull on both drumcables and counterbalance. the receptacle.

e motors arecontrolled from the cab with being made by means of the trolley wires 27 which extend in a line parallel with the line of travel-of the carriage, and the of the bridge'w'hich isupon which, a carriage 7 is adapted to travel I.

A hoisting drum l3 and a receptacle open loop n which is sus- The car- L is operated by means of a leverection 12 positioned Within the The other ends of the l The drum is rotated by means of v A receptacle opening and"closing drum by the controllers 9, the connection theretrolley pole 28, in electrical connection therewith, mounted on the carriage 7.

Magnetic controllers 29 are providedin the motor circuits which are adapted to be actuated by the small controllers 9 mounted in the cab in order to reduce the weight car ried by the, carriage to the minimum and also to avoid the necessity of providing trolley Wires of large carrying capacity.

Both drums mounted on the carriage are provided with brakes 30 which are normally set or in the full on position. These brakes are shown in connection with foot operatinglevers 31 mounted within the cab, but it is obvious that they may be electro-magnetically operated by providingmagnetic brakes in circuit with push buttons of ordinary construction, the push buttons being located within the cab.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows: Assuming that the parts are in the position shown in the drawings with both drum brakes set, the'carriage will be caused to travel in either direction, depending on the direction of rotation of the motors, by s'up'v plying current to one ofthe motors and permitting the other one to run idle. The motor which is supplied with power will rotate the drum and pull the carriage in the direction the pulling cable extends from the carriage and the'winding up of this cable on the power drum will permit the end'of the looped cable wound on the same drum to un wind and the other end of this looped cable will be wound upon the other power drum which is running. idle and paying out its cable to the carriage. -During these movements the counterweight will remain in the same relative position, as the guide pulley to which the weightis connected will permit the free movement of the cable. If the power drum 20 has been operated to move the carriage to the right and the carriage has reached a position Where it is desiredifto unload the bucket or receptacle, current 'f is supplied to the motor which rotates are power drum 24 to slightly raise the. counterweight and is shut off from the other motor. Simultaneously with these 0 erations the brake controlling the travel 0 the carriage is set to stopthe carriage and the brake in connection with the opening and closing.

drum and which is normally set, is released, thus permitting the Weightof the bucket jaws to draw down on the opening and closing cable and open to discharge the contents of the receptacle. As soon'as the bucket has discharged its contents the brake controlling the travel of the carriage is released and the brake controlling the openin and closing drum is set to hold the bucket in its open po' sition and the direction of rotation of the motor 245 is reversed which will cause the carriage to move in the opposite direction, toward the left, and to the loading location.

As soon as the carriage has reached this point the-carriage brake is set and the drum brakes released and the motors caused to rotate the power drums to raise the counterwei ht and pay out both cables leading to the ucket. This operation will permit the open bucket to drop by gravity into the coal or other ma.- terial with which it is to be loaded. Current, which in the meantime has been shut off from both motors is turned on to the motor 24 to cause the drum geared thereto to wind up the opening and closing cable and close the jaws of the bucket on the coal or other material into which it dropped. \Vhen the jaws are closed and the bucket loaded the drum 20 is rotated to wind u the hoisting cable at the same rate of spec as the opening and closing cable is travelin so that the bucket will remain closed while ing raised. \Vhile' the bucket is being raised with its load the full effect of the counterweight is serving to counterbalance the bucket and its load so that but a minimum amount of power is required to lift the bucket. When the bucket has, been raised a sufiicient height the motors are stopped and the carriage drum brakes set and the carriage brake released and the power drum 20 is rotated to wind up the hoisting cable and move the cariage to the oint of discharge as before described. While these diiferent operations have been described step by step it is to be understood that many .of the operations are performed simultaneousl as'it takes but a few seconds of time to load; travel and empty a bucket.

The-construction of the apparatus is such that either power drum will move the carriage in both directions and the opening and closing of the jaws of the bucket may take place when the bucket is being raised or lowered or the carriage is traveling on the track.

While the drawing shows a plurality of cables connected to the drums and to the receptacle it is obvious that but a single cable may be used in lieu thereof and the same results obtained.

It willbe seen from the foregoing descri tion that the apparatus described is simp e in construction and operation and is well adapted for the purposes described and the operator traveling with the carria e has direct supervision and control of all 0 the operations of the apparatus, and the carriage is not burdened with .the weight of themotors and connected parts thereby permitting the use o fi the carriage in connection with, comparatively, a very light structure.

It is to be understood that this invention is not limited to any specific form or arrangement of parts except in so far as such limitations are specified in the claims.

hat I claim as my invention is;

1. An apparatus for elevating, transporting, and discharging material, comprising a track, a carriage provided" with a material carriage on the track, a counterweight asso-" ciated with the power means for counterbah ancing the receptacle, andmanuall operated controllin means moving w th the carriage for controllingthe operation of the power means. i

2. An apparatus for elevating, ing, and track, a carriage provided with .a matemal holding receptacle constructed 'totravel on the track, power means located at relatively a fixed point for causing the travel of the carriage on the track and the operation of the receptacle, a counterweight associated with the power means for counterbalancing the receptacle, and manually operated controlling means moving with the carriage for controlling the, operation of the power means to movathe carriage'and operate the receptacle.

3. An apparatus for elevating, transporting, and discharging material, comprising a track, acarriage provided with a material holding receptacle constructed to travel on the track, power means located at relatively a fixed point for, causing the travel of the carriage on thet rack and the operation of the receptacle, a cable connection between the "power means and the carriage for transmitting the power'to the"carriage,'a counterv weight ass0ciated"v'vith the cable for counterbalancing the receptacle, manually operated controlling means moving withv the carriage for controlling the operation of'thepower means to move the carriage and operate the receptacle, and braking means for controlling the cable.

4. An apparatus for elevating,'transportin and discha in material com I'lSIII a 37 t: 7 b

track, a carriage provided with a material holding receptacle constructed to travel on ower means-located at relatively a fixed point for causing the travel of the carriage on the track and the operation of a cable connection betweenthe receptacle,- the power means and the carriage for trans,- mitting the power to the carriage, a counterweight associated with said cable for counterbalancing the receptacle, and manually operated controlling'means moving with the carriage for controlling the operation of the power means to movethe carriage and operate the receptacle. I

An apparatus for elevating, transporting, and dischargingmaterial, comprising a track, a carriage provided with a material holding receptacle constructed to travel ,on

the track, a counterweight associated with said power mean s for countorbalancmg the receptacle, power means located at relatively a fixed point for causing the travel of the a material hol travel on the track, power means located at transportdischarging material, comprism a.

cable means to move track, a carriage provided with drum and the power means,

6. An apparatus for elevating, transport- '10 J ing, and discharging material, comprising a rum and track,-a carria 'e' provided with a mg receptacle constructed to relatively a fixed point, a cable connection 15 between the power means and the carria e drum, a counterweight associated with said connection for counter-balancing the receptacle, and manually 0 embed controlling means moving with the carriage for controlling the operation of the power the carriage and operate the receptacle.

7. An apparatus for ,elevatin transporting, and discharging material, comprising a drums and a material holding receptacle constructed to travel onsaid track, power means located at relatively a fixed point, a cable connection between the owcr means and the drums and the receptac e, a counterweight associated. with said cable connection/for counterbal ancingthe receptacle, and manually operated=controlling means moving with the car riagefor controlling theop'eration of the power means to move the carriage and operate the receptacle. f v

8. An apparatus for elevating, transporting, and discharging material, comprising a track, a carria e providedvwith drums and a material 1101 mg receptacle constructed to travel on said track, power means located at relatively a fixed point, a cable connection between the receptacle and one of the drums and the power nieanaanother cable connection between the receptacle and the other a counterweight associated with both cable connections to counterbalance the receptacle, and manually operated controllin means moving: with the carriage for controllingthe operation of the power means to move-the carriage and 'opcrate the receptacle. l

9. An apparatus for-elevating, transporting, and discharging material, comprising a ,1 5

track, a carriage constructed to travel on said track, ahoisting drum mounted on'the carriage, a receptacle opening and. closing drum mounted on the carriage, an opening and closing receptacle suspended from. said drums by a cable connection, power means hfcated at relatively a fixed point, a cable connection between the power means and the hoisting drum, a cable connection between the power means'and the receptacle opening and closing drum, a counterweight operatively associated with the last mentioned cables to counterbalance the receptacle, and manually operated controlling means mov-..

mg with thereceptacle for controlling the &

independent rotation of the drums through the power means.

10. An apparatus for elevating, transporting, and discharging material, comprising a track, a carriage constructed to travel on said track, a hoisting drum mounted on the carriage, a receptacle opening and closing drum mounted on the carriage, an openng and closing receptacle suspended from said drums by a cable connection, power means located at relatively-a fixed point, a cable connection between the power means and the hoisting drum, a cable connection between the power means and the receptacle opening and closing drum, a counterweight operatively associated with the last -1nen tioned cables to counterbalance the receptacle, means moving with the carriage for retarding the rotation of the drums, and manually operated controlling means moving with the receptacle for controlling the independent rotation of the drums through the power means.

11. An apparatus for elevating, transporting, and discharging material, comprising a track, a carriage provided with a cab constructed to travel on said track, a hoisting drum mounted on the carriage, a receptacle opening and closing drum mounted on the carriage, an opening and closing receptacle suspended from said drums by a cable connection, power means located at relatively a fixed point, a cable connection between the power means and the hoisting drum, a cable connection between the power means and the receptacle opening and closing drum, a connterweight operati'vely associated with the last mentioned cables to. counterbalance the receptacle, brakes operated-from the cab for retarding the rotation of the drums, and manually operated controlling means moved with the carriage for controlling the independent rotation of the drums through the power means.

12. An apparatus for elevating, transporting, and discharging material, comprising a track, a carriage provided with a cab constructed to travel on said track, a hoisting drum mounted on the carriage, a receptacle opening and. closing drum mounted on the carriage, an opening and closing receptacle suspended from said drums by a cable connection, electric motors located at relatively a fixed point, drums rotated by said motors, a cable connection between one of the motor drums and the hoisting drum, a cable connection between one of the motor drums and the receptacle opening and closing drum, a looped cable cor nected p both motor drums, a counterweight suspended in said loop to counterbalance the receptacle, brakes operated from the cab for retarding the rotation of the carriage drums, and manually operated controlling means moved with the,carriage for controlling the independent notation of the motors and the operation of the carriage and receptacle.

13. An apparatus for elevating, transporting, and discharging material, comprising a track, a carriage provided with a cab constructed to travel on said track, a hoisting drum mounted on the carriage, a receptacle opening and closing drum mounted on the carriage, an openin and closing receptacle suspended from saic drums by a c ble connection, electric motors located at relatively a fixed point, drums rotated by said motors, a cable connection between one of the motor drums and the hoisting drum, :1 cable connection between one of the motor drums and the receptacle opening and closing drum, a

looped cable connected to both motor drums,

drum mounted on the carriage, a receptacle opening andclosing drum mounted on the carriage, an openin suspended from sai drums by a cable connection, electric motors located .at relatively a fixed point, drums rotated by said motors, a cable connection between one of the motor drums and the hoisting drum, a cable connection between one of the motor drums and the receptacle opening and closing drum, a looped cable connected to both motor drums, a counterweight suspended in said loop to counterbalance the receptacle, brakes normally set and operated from the cab for retarding the rotation of the carriage, drums, a brake operated from the cab for retarding the travel of the carriage, and manually operated controlling means moved with the carriage for controlling the independent rotation of the motors and the operation of the carriage and receptacle.

15. An apparatus for elevating, transporting and discharging material, comprising a track, a carriage provided with a material holding receptacle constructed to travel on the track, power means located at relatively "a fixed point for causin the travel of the carriage on the track an the operation of the receptacle, a cable connection between the power means and the carriage for transmitting the power to the carriage, a counterweight associated with the cable for counterbalancing the receptacle, and manually operated controlling and closing receptacle meansffor controlling the operation of the power means to move crate the receptacle.

16. An apparatus for elevating, transporting, and discharging material, comprising a track, a carriage provided with a cab the carriage and pv constructed to travel on said track, a hoistceptaole opening ing drum mounted on the carriage, a reand closing drum mounted on the carriage, an opening and closing receptacle suspended from said drums by a cable connection, electric motors located at relatively a fixed niotors a cable connection between one of the motor drums and the hoisting drum,a cable v connectionbetween one of the motor drums the operation of and the receptacle opening and closing drum, a looped cable connected to both motor drums, brakes operated from the cab for retarding the rotation of the carriage drums,

and manually operated [I controlling means moved With the carriage for controllin the independent rotation of the motors and the carriage and receptacle. 1?. An apparatus for elevating, tranporting and dlscharging material, comprising a track, a carriage provided with a cab point, drums-rotated by said.

constructed totravel on said track, a "hoist;v

.ed on the carriage, an opening and clos-' mg receptacle suspended from said drums by a cable connection, electric motors located at relatively a fixed ,point, drums rotated by said motors, a cable connection between one of the motor drums and the hoisting drum, a cable connection between one of the motor drums and the receptacle opening and closing drum, a looped cable connected to both motor drums, brakes normally set and operated from the cab for retarding the rotation of the carriage drums, a brake operated from the cab for retarding the travel of the carriage, and manually operated controlling means moved With the carriage forcontrolling the independent rotation of the motors and the operation of the carriage and receptacle;

Ill-testimony whereof, I aflix my signature, 111 presence oftwo'wltnesses.

THOMAS 'S. WATSON. Witnesses G. H. KEENEY, ALMA A. K UG. 

